A voter drops his ballot in a secure ballot box during early voting at La Sierra Library on October 30, 2026 in Riverside, CA.

Gina Ferazzi | Los Angeles Times | Getty Images

The Supreme Court , in an order Monday evening, denied the Department of Justice's last-minute request to temporarily block California from counting mail-in ballots from about 20,000 voters who it suggested may not be U.S. citizens.

The one-sentence order came hours after the DOJ sought the injunction, and on the eve of Election Day.

The Supreme Court did not explain its reason for the denial, and it did not note any dissents. The order came after Justice Elena Kagan presented the DOJ's request to the full court, which includes three appointees of President Donald Trump .

The swift ruling was the latest courtroom blow to the Trump administration, which is engaged in multiple other legal fights related to the midterm elections.

Those contests will determine which political party holds majorities in the House and Senate.…